The Bruins announced on Friday that Caron, their first-round draft choice in 2009 (No. 25 overall), plus five other restricted free agents, had re-signed.

Caron, by far the most experienced of the group (123 regular-season games; nine playoff appearances), was the only one to get a one-way contract for the coming season, but for the second year in a row, he took a pay cut. After earning $640,00 last season (also on a one-year, one-way deal), he’ll make $600,000 – $50,000 above the NHL minimum – in 2014-15.

His fifth pro season, however, isn’t about money as much as about establishing himself as an NHL player, and Caron knows that might have to happen with another team. General manager Peter Chiarelli has discussed with him the possibility of a trade, presumably to a place where playing time might be more plentiful.

“(Chiarelli) told me right away” after last season ended, Caron told a pool reporter on Friday. “He knows what I’m thinking and I think I know what he’s thinking a little bit.

“Obviously, I want to play more, and I want to have a bigger role, so if they decide to keep me in Boston, great. If they decide to move me somewhere else, I’m going to have to deal with it, and it’s going to be their decision. Whatever they think is best for the team and for myself, I’m going to ride along with that.”

Caron, who has played at least 17 NHL games in each of his four pro seasons, seemed to make a breakthrough in 2011-12. Playing second- and third-line roles in the absence of injured wingers Nathan Horton and Rich Peverley, Caron reached career-highs in games (48), goals (seven), assists (eight) and points.

The lockout year of 2012-13, however, was a disaster. Caron started poorly at AHL Providence, was hurt when the lockout ended, and scored only one goal and three points in 17 NHL games. The past season (one goal, three points in 35 games) wasn’t much of a bounce-back, although he did appear in seven playoff games and notch his first career post-season goal.

Caron, 23, would compete for one of what Chiarelli considers three openings at forward if he’s still with the team in training camp.

“I want to make that step and … have a bigger role and really be a good player in (the NHL), and I think I can do it,” he said. “It’s my job to keep getting better over the summer, get into camp and be ready to win that kind of role.”

Forwards Justin Florek, Tyler Randell and Craig Cunningham, plus defenseman Tommy Cross, signed one-year, two-way contracts, all but Randell ($575,000) at $600,000 if they’re in the NHL. Cunningham and Florek made their NHL debuts last season, with Florek appearing in six playoff games. Cross and Randell haven’t played in the NHL yet.

Page 2 of 2 - Defenseman Zach Trotman, who played his first two NHL games last season, signed a two-year deal. The coming season is a two-way deal ($600,000 NHL salary), but he has a one-way, $650,000 deal in place for 2015-16.

Ted Donato retired as a Bruin a decade ago, and his son Ryan might not play for the B’s for another five years.

They were happy, though, to represent the Bruins on Friday morning at Jim Roche Community Arena in West Roxbury, where the team held one of its summer camps.

“Today has been a little bit of a memory jog, in the sense that I see these kids and think that Ryan was that age just a few years ago,” said Ted Donato, now head coach at Harvard University, who played youth and high school hockey (Catholic Memorial) at Roche Arena. “And knowing I played mite hockey tournaments in this rink, it brings back a lot of great memories.”

Ryan Donato, who hopes to play for his father at Harvard in 2015-16, joined him at an autograph table on Friday.

“I think a lot of the kids would like it if I was really a Bruin,” said Donato, “but hopefully I can play for them one day.”

Mike Loftus may be reached at mloftus@ledger.com. On Twitter.com: @MLoftus_Ledger.